Charities urge 'substantial changes' to draft SEN code

Mencap and Every Disabled Child Matters (EDCM) are increasingly worried the final code of practice will have few changes to the draft guidance, despite previously raising concerns that it is not fit for purpose.

The warning follows the publication of a letter from children and families minister Edward Timpson instructing teachers to use the draft guidance to prepare for the changes to the SEN system, which were introduced under the Children and Families Act.

In the letter, Timpson informs teachers of the key SEN reforms and explains how the changes will affect them when they take effect in September.

He wrote: “We’ll be issuing the final code of practice as soon as we can this spring. In the meantime the draft code can be used as a planning tool.

“School SEN co-ordinators and head teachers should already be working with their colleagues, the council and local health and care providers to develop the ‘local offer’ and create systems and partnerships needed to deliver the changes.”

His correspondence suggests that the final guidance will not feature any significant changes despite calls from SEN charities for the Department for Education to review the code of practice when the act was legislated last month.

Dan Scorer, head of policy and public affairs at Mencap, said: “While the draft SEN code might aid planning in some areas it does not include substantial changes made during the parliamentary process, nor does it include feedback from consultation on the code.

“We don’t want the government to rush out the final code, it is a critical document, however they must inform schools, colleges and parents of the key changes made in parliament and areas of the code that will be updated.

“If they do not do this, the risk is that support for disabled children and young people is based on an outdated draft of the code.”

Simon Parkinson, board member of Every Disabled Child Matters, said: “It is very important that everyone across the country starts preparing for the implementation of the Children and Families Act.

“A wide range of agencies need to be prepared, including local authorities, health authorities, schools, colleges, early years providers and voluntary agencies.

“The act, and to some extent the draft code, provides an indication as to what those agencies need to do to prepare and will undoubtedly aid as a planning tool.

“However, substantial changes have been made to the legislation during its journey through parliament which are not reflected in the draft.

“We therefore urge the government to communicate those changes so that professionals can prepare in a much more effective way.”

A spokeswoman for the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) added: “Head teachers not only face the implementation of SEN reforms in September but a raft of other changes too, therefore we look forward to the final guidance being published as soon as possible.

“The draft code was given to school leaders and SEN co-ordinators last October and they will already be doing their best to address the reforms.”